BALTHAZAR, PARIS, CIRCA 1770, THE CASE AFTER A DESIGN BY PIERRE-ANTOINE FOULLET

This clock is closely related to a sketch executed circa 1760 by ébéniste Pierre-Antoine Foullet now in the Bibliothèque Doucet, Paris. Describing the model as a Piece de Bureau costing 341 livres, this sketch is one of the earliest documented neoclassical designs. A clock of this model was supplied in about 1765 for the chambre du lit of the duc de Choiseul's hôtel, where it is depicted on the cover of the Choiseul golden box, painted by Louis Nicolas van Blarenberghe, circa 1770. A similar model with fluted base is signed by ciseleur-doreur Jean-Joseph de Saint Germain and dated 1769.